Fan construction



-A1'1 .zo, 1929. s. JOHNSON Y 1,725,085

FAN CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l x /f L $1 if/2 w Ma H E H I: Q a: mu

2 Q INVENTOR Aug; 20, T929.

8. JOHNSON FAN CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR 1 M ATTORNEY s. JOHNSON IWQBTOSS FAN CONSTRUCT ION Q Filed Feb.28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1 /4 I if Z4 LZWJ E l I i 4/ I u l r 40 h;ii 4x I Patented Aug. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

.PATENT OFFICE.

SETH JOHNSON, OF NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAFETY CABHEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

IAN CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,430.

This invention relates to fan construction. One of the objects thereofis to provide a fan construction which is practical and eflicient inaction. Another object is to provide a construction of the above naturewhich is simple and compact. Another object is to provide a constructionof the above nature which is capable of operating quietly .and smoothly.Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. v

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one .or more of thevarious possible embodiments of the several features of this invention,

Figure 1- is a side elevation of a fan construction, certain of theparts being broken away or shown in section; I

Figure 2 is a view taken. substantially as indicated by the line 22 ofFigure 1,'-the parts shown being 1 artly broken away to better showcertain eatures;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a horizpntal line showing certaindriving mechanism;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of-parts of the driving mechanism, and 4Figure 5 shows a modified form of construction.

Similar reference characters refer to-similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawingsi Referring now to the drawin s in detail,and first to Figure 1, there is s own a base or pedestal 10 which issuitably sha ed to rest upon the floor and of a size to a 0rd a firmstance for the base and the parts carried thereby. This base 10 ishollow, and suitably supported therein is an electric motor 11.Projecting u wardly from thebase 10 is a hollow 'uprig t 12. The motor11 drives a shaft 13 which extends therefrom through the u right 12, theshaft 13 being preferably hollb'w as shown thereby to gain a maximum ofstrength with minimum weight. The shaft is connected, as will bedescribed in detail presently, to drive a shaft 14 upon which is mounteda fan 15.

The hollow upright .12 is brokenawa'y in tends about the fan 15. Also,within this annular frame 18 and directly beneath the fan, is adeflector which is adapted to deflect and spread outwardly the currentof air dis-L charged downwardly by the fan. This deflector comprises aninner ring or collar 19, an outer ring 20 and a plurality of inclinedblades 21 arranged in parallel fashion within the outer ring or rim 20.It may be here noted that thespecific construction of this deflector isunimportant as concerns the broader features of this invention, and thatthe term deflector is used herein in a broad sense to denote any elementadapted upon being exposed to an air blast to tend to discharge theair-in a desired direction. The deflector is adapted to be rotated aboutits axis which is substantially coincident with that of the fan 15, andat ower speed than the speed of rotation of the Referring now to Figure4, there is shown the hollow drivin shaft 13 and its driving connectionwith t e shaft 14 at the upper end of which the fan is mounted. Afixture 22 is secured to the upper side of the frame portion 16 andsupports the outer race 23 of a ball bearing 24. Secured to the fixture22, for example, by the threaded connection shown, is a housing 25.Within this housing and rigidly secured to the shaft 14 is a worm gear26. This worm gearhas a downward extension or hub 27 upon which iscarried the inner, race 28 of the ball bearin 24. The hub portion 27 hasan enlarged considerably inner diameter and extending upwardly shaft 14leaves the housing 25 is provided suitable packing 30 to prevent escapeof lubricant at this point.

' three friction rollers.

As shown in Figure 3, extending into the housing 25 are a plurality ofsubstantially radially extending shafts 31, shown herein as three innumber. Upon the inner end of eachof these shafts 31 is fixed a gear 32which meshes with the worm wheel 26. Also, each of the shafts 31 isprovided with a bearing 33 in the housing 25. Thus the three radiallyextending shafts 31 are all driven by the shaft "14 through the singlegear 26, and at greatly reduced speed. The

housing 25 may be packed with grease so that all of the gears and theball bearing 24 are dependably lubricated.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the

three shafts 31 extend outwardly above the respective supporting arms 17so, that they.

are not at all noticeable from beneath the fan. At their outer ends theshafts 31 are provided with bearings 34. These bearings thereby centeredfor rotation about an .axis

substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the fan..

The three shafts 31 engaging the outer rim 20 of the deflector .throu 'hthe rollers 35, thus support the weight of the deflector, center thedeflector for rotation and-drive the deflector. substantially withoutfriction. No support I is required at the. center of the deflector,

. the inner ring 19 thereof rotating freely about the upper portion ofthe housing25. As shown in Figure 1, the inner ring 19 of the deflectorpreferably carries a curved ard 37 which insures that all' of the airscharged downwardly b the fan 15 will pass through the deflector bladeslReferring now to Figure 5, there is shown a modification of thisconstruction, certain features of the invention being embodied in a fanadapted to be supported from the ceiling ,as distinguished from thepedestal construction hereinbefore described. A suitable supportingframe 40 is secured to a ceiling indicated at 41. Carried by this frameis an electric motor 42 driving a shaft .43 upon which is mounted a fan45. Be-

neath the fan 45 is a deflector 46. The fan 45 1s adapted to draw airdownwardly, as

- indicated by the arrows, and discharge the airth'rough the deflector46 which is adapted The deflector thus rotates to direct and dischargethe air-blast in a predetermined manner, preferably spreading it out. 1y

In the embodiment shownin Figure 5,

the frame 40 is provided with three outwith this worm gear are threegears fixed.

respectively upon the inner ends of three radially extending shafts 54.These shafts are provided with bearings in the housing 52 and, at theirouter ends they are supported in bearings 55. .The bearings 55 areclamped between the outer ends of the arms 50 and the annular frame part48,-the arms 50 and the fixture 49 with the parts carried thereby beingthus supported from the part 48 which is in turn carried by the arms 47.The radially extending shafts 54 have'fixed thereon adjacent their outerends friction rollers 56 similar to the friction rollers 35 previouslydescribed, and upon these friction rollers rests the outer rim of thedeflector 46. The shafts '54 thus support and rotate the deflector inthis embodiment of the invention substantially as do the shafts 31ofithe embodiment first described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there are herein providedconstructions which achieve the objects of this invention and accomplishresults of practical value. This fan construction is simple andinexpensive and is capable of operating efliciently with the expenditureof a minimum amount of power. Thenumber of parts employed are few andthe mechanisms are compactly arranged to furnish, in addition to anefliciently operating device, a construction which is neat and finishedin appearance.

1 As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, itis to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shownin theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotary deflector in the path of discharge of said fan, and meansengaging said deflector adjacent the periphery thereof for rotatablysupporting and driving said deflector.

p 2. Ina construction of the class described,

. in combination, a fan, a rotary deflector in the path of discharge ofsaid fan, and means engaging said deflector at a plurality of spacedpoints adjacent the periphery thereof, said means rotatably supportingand being adapted to drive said deflector.

3. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotary deflector in the path of discharge of said fan, rotatablefriction means supporting said deflector, and means for rotating saidlast means to drive said deflector.

4. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotary deflector in the path of discharge of said fan, a plural- ,ity ofrotatable members upon which said deflector rests and adapted to supportthe weight of said deflector, and means for rotating said members todrive said deflector.

5. In a construction of the class described,

in combination, a fan, a rotatable deflector, 1n the path of dischargefrom said fan and positioned in a -substantially horizontal lane, aplurality of friction rollers engaging said deflector adjacent theperiphery thereof and supporting the weight thereof, and means forrotating said rollers to drive said deflector.

6. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotatable deflector in the path of. discharge from said fan and gpositioned in a substantially horizontal plane, said deflectorcomprising vanes-and an annular peripheral rim about said vanes,

and a plurality of friction rollers engaging said rim and supporting theweight of said deflector, and means for rotating said rollers to drivesaid deflector.

7. In a construction of the class described, in, combination, a fan, arotatable deflector in the path of discharge from said fan, means fordriving said fan, rotatable means- 'engaging said deflector adjacent theperiphery thereof and supporting the weight thereof, andmeans forrotating said last means from said driving means to rotate saiddeflector.

' 8. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotatable'deflector in the path of discharge from said fan, a

I plurality of friction rollers substantially a shaft extendingoutwardly' in a substantially radial direction from said first shaft andhaving adjacent its outer end a driving connection with a peripheralportion of said deflector. I V 10. In a construction of the classdescribed, in combination, a fan, a rotatable deflector in the path ofdischarge from said fan, a rotatable shaft substantially coaxial withsaid fan and from which said fan is driven, rotatable means supportingthe Weight of said deflector, and means for rotating said last means todrive said deflector comprising a shaft extending outwardly in asubstantially radial direction from said first shaft and driventherefrom. I 11. In a construction of the class described, incombination, a fan, a rotatable deflector in the path of discharge fromsaid fan, a rotatable'shaft substantially coaxial with said fan and fromwhich said-fan is driven, and a plurality of shafts extending outwardlyin a substantially radial direction from said first shaft and driventherefrom,

said deflector resting upon said shafts and being driven therefrom.

12. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a fan, arotatable deflector in the path of discharge from said fan, a rotatableshaft substantially coaxial with said fan and from which said fan isdriven, a plurality of shafts extending outwardly in a substantiallyradial direction from said first shaft and driven therefrom, andfriction rollers carried by said shafts'at 'outerJportions thereof, saiddeflector being supported by'said rollers and being driven thereby. r

13. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a. fan, arotatable deflector in the path of discharge from said fan, a shaftsubstantially coaxial with said fan and from which saidfan is driven, aplurality of shafts extending outwardlyin a substantially radialdirection from said first shaft and connected at outer portions thereofto rotate said deflector, and a worm gear up'on'said first shaftconnected to drive all of said plurality of shafts at reduced speed. Y

1 14. In a construction" of the class described, in combination, a fan,a rotatable deflector in the path of discharge from said fan, a shaftsubstantially coaxial with said A fan and from which said fan is driven,a plurality of shafts extending outwardly in a substantially radialdirection from said first shaft, gearing for driving said plurality ofshafts from said firstshaft at reduced speed, a housing about saidgearin through which said shafts pass and in which they are supportedadjacent their inner ends, a frame work in which said plurality ofshafts are supported adjacent their outer ends, and

i said deflector is supported and by which said" deflector is rotated.

15. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a basemember adapted to rest upon the floor, an electric motor supported bysaid base, a hollow ppright extending from said base, a vertical shaftdriven by said motor extending therefrom upwardly through said upright,a fan at the upper end of said shaft rotated thereby about a verticalaxis and "adapted to discharge air downwardly about said upright, adeflector positioned below said fan, and means driven from said shaftfor rotatably supporting and for driving said deflector.

16. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a basemember right extending from said base, a vertical.

shaft driven by said motor extending there from upwardly through 'saidupright, a housing at the upper end of said upright, an extension ofsaid shaft projecting through said'housing and out through the topthereof, a fan mounted on the projectin part of said shaft, a deflectorbeneath said fan, gearing within said housing driven by said shaft, andmeans driven from said gearing for rotatably supporting and rotatingsaid deflector.

17. In a construction of the class 'described, in combination, a hollowbase adapted to rest upon the floor, an electric motor mounted in saidbase with its axis substantially vertical, a hollow upright extendingfrom said base, a vertical shaft her and rotated by said shaft aboutasubstantially vertical axis, a deflector beneath said fan androtatably' supported, and means for rotating said deflector from saidshaft.

18. In a construction of the class described, in combination, a hollowbase adapted to rest up on the floor, an electric motor mounted in saidbase with its axis substantially vertical, a hollow upright extendingfrom said base, a vertical shaft driven by said motor extendingtherefrom upwardly through said upright, a plurality of arms extendingoutwardly from the upper portion of said upright, an annular frame 7member supported at the outer ends of said arms, a fan mounted withinsaid frame member and rotated by said shaft about a sub stantiallyvertical axis, a deflector beneath said fan and rotatably supported, anda plurality of shafts extending outwardly in a substantially radialdirection from said first shaft and driven therefrom, said shaftssupporting and driving said deflector and the outer'ends thereof beingsupported in said annular frame. 1

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this'specification this16th day'of' SETH J OHNSONr February 1927.

